Weekly Wrap-Up

Sorry folks - we were so busy doing all the things that we forgot to post a weekly wrap-up last week, so we are posting it on a Monday in the hopes that it helps launch another great week.

WHAT WE’VE DONE

WHAT WE LIKE

  • Follow Friday: @KeoluFox, @oiwi_scholar, @cricketcrocker, @KimTallBea, @NativeApprops, @i_iwakeli_i, @jessbhdz

  • Indigenous women on the rise

  • Long history of Indigenous resistance to the systematic destruction of homeland, culture and identity perpetrated by colonialist governments across the globe

  • Recognizing the interlinked issues of environmental and climate justice and the root cause of colonialism

  • Love is Wise

  • Cancel culture, when people in power are rightfully criticized their problematic actions

READING CORNER

IN OUR EARBUDS - podcasts made by Indigenous creators (check out this list for more ideas)

Don’t hesitate to send us your podcast and book suggestions

Photo by Jessica Fadel on Unsplash

Take Action Tuesday

As #NativeAmericanHistoryMonth comes to a close, we ask that our 500 Women Scientists community take time this week to a) honor the contributions of Native scientists, b) acknowledge how history—including the history of science—has worked to erase and delegitimize Native identity, and importantly, c) help redress those wrongs by holding individuals and academic institutions accountable for centering Native narratives. To these ends:

1.     Recognize that the dominant narrative of Thanksgiving often elides the impacts that settlers have had and continue to have on Native communities. Thanksgiving is not a celebration for everyone. The United American Indians of New England describes Thanksgiving as: 

“a reminder of the genocide of millions of Native people, the theft of Native lands, and the relentless assault on Native culture. Participants in National Day of Mourning honor Native ancestors and the struggles of Native peoples to survive today. It is a day of remembrance and spiritual connection as well as a protest of the racism and oppression which Native Americans continue to experience.”

This Take Action Tuesday, we encourage you to seek out Native perspectives on Thanksgiving, such as by reading the posts below:

2. Follow, subscribe, and financially support the work of Native scholars, journalists, business owners, and organizations who work to center indigenous communities, their cultures, and the issues they face. These include:

3. Ask your institution to hold itself accountable. As starting places for this work:

Photo by Sime Basioli on Unsplash

Weekly Wrap-Up

Happy Friday everyone.

In the northern hemisphere, the days are getting shorter. And to be honest, patience for our failing (democratic, scientific, societal) institutions are getting shorter and shorter too. The people of Hong Kong are out in the streets, using their voices to fight for their autonomy and freedoms. Protesters in Chile are in the streets, protesting income inequality and violent government tactics to shut down protests. We are inspired by their and others’ collective actions and by their willingness to show up for what they believe in!

WHAT WE’VE DONE

WHAT WE LIKE

READING CORNER

IN OUR EARBUDS

Take Action Tuesday

November is Trans Awareness and Native American Heritage month. For this week’s Take Action Tuesday, learn about the mistreatment and discrimination these communities face in our society and in our scientific communities, especially when those identities intersect.

Photo by Andy Holmes on Unsplash

Friday Wrap Up

Welcome to November and another Friday Wrap Up!

November is Native American Heritage month, an opportunity for us to not only celebrate the rich cultural traditions of Indigenous groups across the Americas, but also grapple the long history of subjugation and oppression that continues to this day. It is our responsibility to learn that history and ensure that our equity and inclusion work centers Native and Indigenous voices (something we at 500WS are still very much working towards). We must remember that most of us are all on Indigenous land, so if your institution does not have a land acknowledgement statement, you can encourage them and help create one.

November is also Trans Awareness month. The trans community is often the target of harassment, discrimination, and violence. The trans community is also on the frontlines of the fight for equity and justice. Remember, trans right are human rights and:

Trans people exist.

Non-binary people exist.

Trans women are women.

Trans men are men.

WHAT WE’VE DONE

  • Talked about what we know and what we don’t know

  • Held our biannual leadership board meeting in St. Louis MO

  • The San Francisco pod chatted with Dr. Kennan Salinero

  • Leadership member Dr. Jess Metcalf co-authored a new paper recommending policies and procedures to increase gender diversity in the STEM workforce

  • Leadership members Francesca Bernardi and Liz McCullagh in Elpha

WHAT WE LIKE

READING CORNER

IN OUR EARBUDS

Don’t hesitate to send us your podcast and book suggestions

Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash

Weekly Wrap-Up

Hi folks - we have been busy prepping for our biannual leadership board meeting, this fall hosted by the St. Louis MO pod. We will keep the wrap-up short, but stay tuned for a more in-depth recap of our meeting and what we are excited to work on in the coming months.

WHAT WE’VE DONE

  • Shared our 1st member/supporter survey - help us get to know you and ensure our organization is meeting your needs

  • Our biannual leadership board meeting kicks off today, hosted by our stellar St. Louis MO pod!

WHAT WE LIKE

READING CORNER

IN OUR EARBUDS

Don’t hesitate to send us your podcast and book suggestions

Photo by Logan Troxell on Unsplash

Take Action Tuesday

This week’s post by Jane Zelikova and Jewel Tomasula

This week, we are continuing to act on climate. Protests, marches, strikes, peaceful civil disobedience, and other organized actions are all important tactics for creating and sustaining bold climate actions and solutions. Beyond those tactics, stories hold power to help us imagine what is possible and inspire action. Stories connect us to each other, help invoke empathy, and bring curiosity and emotion into the often sterile climate space.

Here are some suggestions for building your climate storytelling capabilities #myclimatestory:

Photo by Mari Pa on Unsplash

Weekly Wrap-Up

Happy International Day of the Girl, y’all!

Its been a quiet week in the 500 Women Scientists world, which means its been a productive week for many of us in our work/science lives. To be honest, I wish there were more weeks like this one, a week full of “science” in the “woman in science.” So lets spend this weekend refueling our science mind body and soul!

WHAT WE’VE DONE

WHAT WE LIKE

READING CORNER

IN OUR EARBUDS

Don’t hesitate to send us your podcast and book suggestions.

Photo by Alexander Dummer on Unsplash

Our mission is to serve society by making science open, inclusive, and accessible, and to transform society by fighting racism, patriarchy, and oppressive societal norms